You don’t have to go to Paris to experience fine French cuisine. NYC is bursting with French dining establishments to satisfy your every craving!
Whether you’re throwing a fancy business dinner, planning a wedding, or celebrating a holiday, French catering is sure to impress both your guests and your taste buds.
From French classics to French-American fusions, in no particular order, we've compiled a list of the best French restaurants in NYC, based on their Yelp reviews, Google reviews, and respected publications. After you take a look, you'll want to compare French catering prices from these and other great French restaurants!
1. Daniel
Anyone will tell you that Daniel offers the best French fare in town. His well-crafted menu offers elegant options such as poularde with artichokes barigoule and tarragon mustard or squab consommé with port and foie gras. Don’t stop with those delectable dishes! Daniel offers desserts to die for, such as poire, which includes roasted bartlett pears, a gingerbread biscuit, and chestnut honey ice cream. If you’re looking for high-class dining and you’ve got the budget, choose Daniel for your catering needs.
2. Raoul’s
With a take-out menu that’s easy to order from, Raoul’s is prepared to serve up some fine flavors to make your gathering special! Offering favorites such as an artichoke vinaigrette with Raoul’s dressing, frisée with lardons, pistachios, and poached farm egg, or coquilles Saint-Jacques with roast cauliflower, this menu will have you—and everyone else—singing its praises. Don’t forget to indulge a little and try their parmesan-crusted cod and a bit of their banana coconut bread pudding for dessert!
3. Le Bernardin
Le Bernardin has been a fan favorite as a 5-star, Michelin, and award-winning restaurant. Letting the fine ingredients speak for themselves: The items on the menu boast an array of seafood, from caviar and oyster dishes to octopus, dover sole, and striped bass. Vegetarian options are also available to suit all needs. Check out their chef’s tasting menu and sweet desserts, which include mousses, truffle-inspired sweets, and ice creams.
4. Balthazar
Balthazar can cater any meal of the day. In fact, they’re known for their fabulous brunch and breakfast items. They specialize in seafood but serve all sorts of meats. Recommended favorites include duck shepherd’s pie and roasted chicken with steak frites. They have a generous take-out menu that covers everything from steak au poivre to roasted salmon or grilled chicken paillard with frisée, tomato confit, and shaved parmesan.
5. Le Coucou
Le Coucou also boasts a great breakfast menu, from their Coucou complet, which includes two eggs, poitrine fumée, grilled country bread, and sautéed potatoes, to lobster dishes, poached eggs, filet mignon with eggs, and French pancakes. Their extensive menu for lunch and dinner includes such unique finds as oysters with seaweed ice, lobster broth with artichoke and foie gras ravioli, blue crab, sea bass, and much more! If what you’re craving is tout le lapin (all of the rabbit), they have that, too.
6. Benoit
Benoit takes a modern look at traditional French cuisine, featuring hors d’oeuvre and small plates. From a selection of artistically crafted salads, such as sautéed shrimp with seared baby gem and anchovy, to duck foie gras terrine and generously buttered snails, Benoit adds an extra flair to the traditional dishes you love, such as by serving octopus with crispy quinoa. Charcuterie and hand-chopped beef tartare are just a couple of the dishes you may want to offer at your next catered event.
7. Boucherie
It comes as no surprise that, as a traditional French steakhouse, Boucherie knows their beef. With a long list of hors d’oeuvre and traditional French steak dishes such as steak tartare, beef á la lyonnaise, and beef bourguignon, this food is sure to please your guests. If you’re looking for lighter fare, they also offer cheese and charcuterie plates and classic French sandwiches such as le croque monsieur.
8. Buvette
With a large breakfast and brunch menu, complete with croque madame and smoked salmon, an assortment of pastries and waffles, and steak tartare, Buvette is sure to have something for everyone. Their yummy lunch menu includes a spread of salmon, waffles, croques, and salads. If you’re looking for something a little more high-class, you should order catering from their dinner menu. Try their house recipe of ratatouille or anchoiade, or enjoy the usual seafood and steak fare we’ve come to expect from fine French cooking.
There’s a reason this long-standing restaurant in NYC has survived the competition: Their classic assortment of French dishes, along with a few special items you might not find at other places, are made from tried and true recipes. They offer salmon dishes, steak tartare, and seafood assortments with salmon, sea bass, scallops, and shrimp. Don’t forget to try their lobster tarragon ravioli, beef piccata, or frog legs sautéed in butter and garlic. To finish it off, enjoy some of their creamy chocolate truffles or a flaky lemon tart.
10. Jean-Georges
Known for his exquisite designs, plating, and unforgettable flavors, Michelin star and award-winning chef Jean-Georges truly delivers with his seasonal menu. He doesn’t limit himself to French tradition but experiments with a fusion of French, American, and Asian cooking. He uses only fresh products from local farmers’ markets to fuel his inspiration. Curious to find out how this chef got his acclaim? Try his food for yourself.
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